Welcome to this special two hour edition of the beat tonight.

I'm Ari Melber covering this third day on the stand

from the key witness Michael Cohen,

Donald Trump's self-described fixer.

As the defendant we could tell you

was rolling deep again today, Trump not only arriving with top Republican figures, but also one of his own co-defendants from a different case where he's charged.

Disgrace ex-D.O-J official,

Jeffrey Clark, was in the courtroom.

I saw him myself and briefly greeted him.

Indeed, it was inside that courtroom

that we continued our group coverage today of the defendants,

the witness, the lawyers seeing them all up close.

That was just a few hours ago when I was up in front of the New York Criminal Courthouse.

I am of course a member of our whole wide-ranging team

reporting on this historic trial for you. And while the DA has been on offense for weeks

with damning receipts, strong witnesses we've told you about.

Today's continued heat on Michael Cohen is certainly slowing the prosecutor's momentum in this trial.

Trump's lawyers conducting a winding but relentless cross-examination that has the DA's case

wobbling.

The worst news for the DA here is that the jury has now seen Michael Cohen admit or confirm a bunch of his own

mistakes and lies and that's just a problem doesn't mean they can't win the case but

it does remind everyone who's been

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